Mother of murdered man tells killer: 'I will pray for you and your family'

Jury sentences Valencia to life in prison for 2010 killing

A Lubbock County jury took only 30 minutes Monday, March 10, to approve a life sentence for Renee Valencia in connection with a 2010 murder outside a now-defunct Depot District night club.

Valencia, 23, was convicted Friday in the shooting death of Zachary Matta, 22, early in the morning of Oct. 3, 2010, outside the Daiquiri Lounge — a killing witnesses said in court started with one man accidentally bumping into the other’s shoulder inside the bar.

Valencia will become eligible for parole after serving 30 years.About 20 of Matta’s family members and friends filled one side of the 137th District courtroom for the verdict, ending a daily vigil that began more than a week ago.

Some of the women sobbed softly as District Judge John J. McClendon III read the jury’s verdict.

After the jury handed down its sentence, several members of Matta’s family read victim impact statements.

Anger, but no hatred

While anger at the murder was readily apparent with some of the speakers, there were no words of hatred directed at Valencia.

Yolanda Matta looked at Valencia from the witness stand and, after summing up the loss of her first-born son, said: “I forgive you and will pray for you and your family.”

She described Zachary Matta as “a son who filled a room with laughter and joy. He treated everyone with love and respect.”

Yolanda Matta said she is sad there will be “no more bear hugs, no more kisses on the forehead, no more, ‘Mom, I love you.’ ”

His sister, Artisea Robinson, provoked a chuckle from the family, recalling how hard it was to find clothes big enough to fit the young man known to family and friends as “Big Zach.”

They’d gone shopping a day or so before his death, Robinson said, adding she wore the butterfly ring he’d bought her that day.

Robinson said she’d watched Valencia at times wink or smile at a small group of friends in the gallery, adding she wishes she could see her brother’s smile again.

“Was it worth it?” Robinson asked Valencia.

Extraneous evidence

In the sentencing hearing Monday morning, prosecutors presented evidence of Valencia’s connection with a nationwide gang, the Sureños, along with police arresting him in connection with a drug deal.

Deputy Chris Garza, who coordinates gang intelligence for the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office said he interviewed Valencia shortly after he was booked into the jail in 2010, and at that time Valencia said he was a member of the gang’s “Pocos Locos” set in the state of Washington.

Garza noted that during Valencia’s three years in jail, he has violated jail policy against getting tattooed while in custody by having his name tattooed on his chest, the word “POCOS” on his right forearm and “LOCOS” on his left forearm.

Garza explained that asking new inmates about gang affiliations serves several functions, including helping jail administrators ensure members of rival gangs are housed in separate parts of the jail.

In addition, prosecutors showed the jury a video from Lubbock County Detention Center in which Valencia is seen hitting another inmate several times. Valencia and two other inmates are seen moving the man they attacked to an edge of the common area in the jail unit.

As the video played, the other two inmates continue beating the man while Valencia walks away.

Prosecutors asked for a life sentence, while Defense Attorney Jesse Mendez asked the eight-man, four-woman jury to consider Valencia’s age in handing down the sentence.

According to police accounts, Matta was celebrating his 22nd birthday, which was two days earlier, at the Daiquiri Lounge when he and a friend had a confrontation with Valencia and a friend.

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think gangs are a brotherhood of trusting friends. If someone was your friend, they would never want to put you in harms way. I don't understand any thoughts that go through a gang member's head. Is it fun defending a sign, logo, side of a town, that you wouldn't have to defend if you didn't join this gang. Why can they not just be tough in a different way. People who use fire arms to defend themselves are cowards. It's too bad that since this shooting, shootings have become familiar in the depot district. I hope the family feels more at peace getting this justice.